QHave you grown tomatoes, in their natural way, without side-shoot removal? Andrew Littleford, West Midlands

I like the process of pinching out side shoots, but if they are left to grow they will produce trusses of fruit. They are extremely vigorous, taking a lot of the plant’s energy and you not only have a sprawling plant tangling all over the place with associated ventilation problems, but also less fruit. Bush ( or determinate) varieties are, as the name suggests, bred to be grown naturally and are often smothered in fruits for a relatively short harvesting period. But they take up a great deal more space than cordon ( indeterminate) types, so are usually grown outside, with all the problems outlined left.